Groups that aided Newtown victims to share $1.5 million federal grant

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

WASHINGTON >> Groups that provided direct support to victims, first responders and the community immediately after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., will share a $1,519,713 grant, according to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch, which administers funding for services to victims of violent crime, will administer the grant from the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime.

The initial award will be used to reimburse organizations that provided crisis intervention services, trauma-informed care, select victim-related law enforcement support and costs incurred in moving students from Sandy Hook to a new school location.

“We admire and continue to support the community that has displayed such strength and resilience since [Dec. 14, 2012]. And, through this grant and the additional funds that have already been provided to the Newtown Police Department and their law enforcement partners, we reaffirm our commitment to standing with the people of Newtown, the families of the victims, and all who are helping to bring help and healing to those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” Holder said.

“Through this funding … OVC is supporting the critically important work of the school system, social service and medical organizations and the city government as they continue to assist victims. I am humbled by the courage and resoluteness of the victims, first responders, educators, town leaders and residents of Newtown for their support of one another and their incredible grace and dignity in the aftermath of this tragedy,” said OVC Director Joye Frost.

OVC is also working directly with Newtown city officials and the state of Connecticut to develop an additional grant application to provide more funding for long-term victim recovery.

“OVC is committed to ensuring that the community of Newtown has the resources necessary to assist victims of this horrific crime,” Frost said.

In 1995, following the Oklahoma City bombing, Congress authorized OVC to set aside and administer up to $50 million annually from the Crime Victims Fund for the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve Fund to assist victims in extraordinary circumstances. Following an act of terrorism or mass violence, jurisdictions can apply for an Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) grant award for crisis response, criminal justice support, crime victim compensation and training and technical assistance expenses. For more information on the AEAP program, please visit: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/AEAP/index.html.

OVC is one of six components in the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, which is headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason. In addition to OVC, OJP’s components include: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.